Apparatus for attachment of needle or catheter to endoluminal ultrasound probe

Abstract

A needle guidance attachment device for an endoluminal ultrasound probe that allows removal of the probe while the needle is in position in the tissue. The device includes an elongated needle carrier having a longitudinal slot with a transverse opening. The carrier includes a pair of retaining bands adapted to fit around a cylindrical-shaped ultrasound transducer and to orient the needle carrier along the longitudinal axis of the probe. An elongated cover is slidably coupled to the carrier in a longitudinal orientation such that at least a portion of the slot is covered in a first, closed position and uncovered in a second, opened position. The cover moves between its open and closed position axially about the longitudinal axis of the needle carrier.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A needle attachment apparatus for an endoluminal ultrasound probe comprising: (a) a needle carrier, said needle carrier including a longitudinal slot; and   (b) a cover coupled to said needle carrier, said cover moveable between a first, closed position over said slot and a second, open position, wherein a needle placed in said needle carrier is retained for insertion though a body cavity and into tissue when said cover is in said first, closed position, and wherein said needle carrier can be laterally detached from said needle and removed from said body cavity when said cover is in said second, open position, without removal of said needle from said tissue or said body cavity.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a receptacle for configured to couple said apparatus to an ultrasound probe. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said receptacle comprises an annular ring coupled to said needle carrier and further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock said annular ring to an ultrasound probe. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said cover is pivotally coupled to said annular ring. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said cover is slidably coupled to said annular ring. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising a slot in said annular ring and a hinge pivotally coupling said cover to said needle carrier, wherein said slot receives said hinge, and wherein said hinge slides in said slot. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said cover and said needle carrier include a cooperating latch mechanism. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for detachably coupling a needle to an ultrasound transducer, comprising: (a) an elongated needle carrier, said needle carrier including a longitudinal slot;   (b) a receptacle configured to couple said apparatus to an ultrasound transducer in a fixed position; and   (c) a cover coupled to said annular ring, said cover moveable between a first, closed position over said slot and a second, open position away from said slot, wherein a needle placed in said needle carrier is retained for insertion though a body cavity and into tissue when said cover is in said first, closed position, and wherein said needle carrier can be laterally detached from said needle and removed from said body cavity when said cover is in said second, open position, without removal of said needle from said tissue or said body cavity.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said cover and said needle carrier include a cooperating latch mechanism. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein said receptacle comprises an annular ring and wherein said cover is pivotally coupled to annular ring. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said cover is slidably coupled to said annular ring. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a slot in said annular ring and a hinge pivotally coupling said cover to said needle carrier, wherein said slot receives said hinge, and wherein said hinge slides in said slot. 
     
     
       13. A needle attachment apparatus for an endoluminal ultrasound guidance probe, comprising: (a) an elongated needle carrier, said needle carrier including a longitudinal slot;   (b) an annular ring coupled to said needle carrier and configured for coupling said needle carrier to an ultrasound transducer in a fixed position;   (c) a cover;   (d) a cooperating latch mechanism associated with said cover and said needle carrier; and   (e) a hinge pivotally coupling said cover to said annular ring wherein said cover extends over at least a portion of said slot in a first, closed position and exposes said slot in a second open position, wherein a needle placed in said needle carrier is retained for insertion though a body cavity and into tissue when said cover is in said first, closed position, and wherein said needle carrier can be laterally detached from said needle and removed from said body cavity when said cover is in said se cond, open position, without removal of said needle from said tissue or said body cavity.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, further comprising a slot in said annular ring for receiving said hinge wherein said hinge slides in said slot.